Sahar’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law were arrested and her husband was being sought, said Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi.

President Hamid Karzai has said that whoever used violence against Gul will be punished.

According to officials in northeastern Baghlan province, Sahar was kept in a basement for six months. The family ripped her fingernails out, tortured her with hot irons and broke her fingers.

She was freed from a basement at her husband’s home last week after her uncle called the local police.

“It is a violent act that is unacceptable in the 21st century,” Sediqi told reporters. “We are thankful of Sahar Gul’s uncle.”

He added that “if the police had not arrived in time she may have died.”

According to the Associated Press:

Gul was married about seven months ago. Jawad Basharat, spokesman for the provincial police chief in Baghlan, said an arrest warrant had been issued for her husband, who is serving in the Afghan army.

“After police found out about the small girl Sahar Gul they took action and found her in the basement of the house in very bad condition,” Basharat said. “Her nails were pulled out, she has injuries in all parts of her body, there are signs of burning on her body, she was suffering from different kinds of injuries.”

He said that her mother-in-law and other members of the family were reportedly involved in what he described as “criminal activities,” which he said included selling alcohol and prostitution.

We are happy that Sahar has been rescued, we couldn’t imagine what torture she went through.